Reiker for Hire - Death Cruise: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries, #1

By Sylvia Rose

Private detective Reiker investigates when a Rhine cruise turns deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvia Rose
• Release date: Aug 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215954256

Sylvia Rose

Hello from Canada! The Rhine Maidens are gracing my profile pic as they inspire many tales. My stories and books are influenced by Germanic history, myth and magic. Being first generation Canadian with German heritage I also heard many fascinating tales growing up. You'll find plenty in the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series. And, just finished Reiker For Hire, a thrilling Victorian detective crime novella trilogy. In process is a Bronze Age adventure Cult of the Fire God, in which heroine Kah'ni must leave her northern European home near the Baltic. Accompanied by a jaded Fate Goddess, a canny traveling merchant, a snobbish Hellene and a mad shaman, she journeys south in an unforgettable quest to find her sister Shana. Visit me on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/SylviaRoseBooks/ My other links are below. Click any book cover to go to the work and read a free sample! My books are always free for libraries from the Smashwords site. Be sure to peruse my blog, link below, where I post background information and reading for my novels & novellas, everything from common herbs to magic and spiritual beliefs, everyday life, natural health of ancients, gemstones, trade routes and trade goods, mythology, rituals, sacrificial rites and thriving urban centers from Neolithic, Bronze Age; German myths and history, beliefs and practices. Enjoy.

Book preview

Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries

Death Cruise

Copyright 2023 Sylvia Rose, Smashwords Edition

all rights reserved

Distributed by Smashwords

Reproduction of this work in whole or in part in any manner without express written consent is prohibited

Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries

Death Cruise

Map

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

About the Author

Website

Blog

Other Books by Sylvia Rose

Reiker For Hire – Hotel of Horror

Reiker For Hire – Murder in the Cards

Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series

Gypsy Violin

CHAPTER ONE

German Empire, June 1896

The killer waited.

Darkness filled his eyes with floating shapes. His bones grated on hard wood and he had no room to stretch. He dared not even think, for fear he'd speak aloud. Focus is essential. Breathing deeply, he felt the muscles of his neck and shoulders relax.

Doors and drawers thudded, and voices rose out in the main room. He pictured them in his mind. The man, bald and jowly, would be checking his wallet. The woman, hair coiffed in the latest shade of blonde, gazing at her matronly reflection.

We're not going anywhere, said the man, until I scrape my face.

Herbert Arnold! Hands fluttering. You knew we were leaving early!

You know I read the news before my shave. He pointed to the paper. Escaped Lunatic at Large, a headline read.

We're on vacation. Forget the news. She tossed the paper into the waste basket. We'll have coffee at one of those darling French cafes in Strasbourg. You know it was still part of France less than thirty years ago? It's a lovely day. Do you have your hat, dear? Here's your collar and tie. She flinched. Your skin's like sandpaper. Better shave.

Good idea, Mildred. Why didn't I think of that?

Go on. There are towels in the powder room cabinet.

That place is too small to call a room.

Consider yourself lucky we're on this cruise at all, said Mildred Arnold. Gazing in the vanity mirror, she pinned a feather chapeau into her hair. "The Agrippina II. Our friends are so jealous. You always deride me for those mail-in sweepstakes."

Great. You got lucky. He opened the narrow powder room door. He had a slight disagreement with the doorway. In the end his girth won, and he squeezed into the little space. A cabinet took up half of it. He turned up the lantern and tossed the collar and bow tie on top.

Due to a double boiler and complex system of pipes, Agrippina II boasted the ultimate in luxury engineering – hot running water. Herbert turned a little tap and it drizzled out the faucet. He opened his leather shaving case and splashed water on his face.

With a brisk shake of his head, he reached down to the cabinet. His fingers fuddled with the little door. He felt inside for a towel.

Fierce pain jabbed through his fingers and up his arm. He yanked his hand out and stared in disbelief at the syringe stuck into it. Whatever was in there now burned through his bloodstream. Herbert tried to scream but his mouth filled with bile and he made only a strangled wheezing noise.

What's that, dear? called Mildred. She spritzed herself with rose water. No one answered. Maybe he sneezed. With a moue of impatience she settled into a stuffed armchair and opened a complimentary magazine.

A sickly gurgle came from the powder room.

Hurry up, dear, said Mildred. We want to catch one of the walking tours through the old town. Looks so quaint in the brochure. Do you have your Kodak? We'll lunch on the terrace at the Parc de l'Orangerie. She glanced at her wrist watch, a slender silver band with miniature clock face. All the ladies wore them these days.

She heard a body thud against the powder room door. It really was cramped. Herbert could barely move without hitting something. Perhaps they should speak to the Captain. She shrugged. Then again, it's a free Rhine cruise. One gets what one pays for.

Are you finished, Herbert? she called.

No answer.

Mildred put down the magazine. She went to the powder room and tried the door. Something held it shut from inside. Herbert? Let me in. She applied her shoulder to the door and shoved. What are you doing in there? Looking at naughty postcards?

The door swung open and she fell through. Her eyes widened. What was left of Herbert sat atop the cabinet. An eye goggled at her.

As she opened her mouth to scream, one of Herbert's ties wound around her neck and compressed her vocal cords. She choked, grasping in vain as strong gloved hands pulled the tie tight. She flailed behind her at an unseen form. Her body shrieked for breath. Her eyes rolled up and her face turned purple. Darkness took over her vision. Her hands fluttered, and flopped at her sides, and moved no more.

The killer kept his grip a few minutes, just to be sure. Four minutes. He felt the pulse of her life ebb and expire. Finally he let go and her body crumpled to the floor. He tossed the tie down beside her. Atop the cabinet Herbert grinned from a lopsided face.

Bon voyage, said the killer. He took off his gloves and black knit mask. The cabin key hung on a hook beside the entrance. With silent step he opened the door and hung the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the knob. The killer closed and locked the door behind him, and walked on down the hall.

Reiker!

Reiker clapped a hand to his ear and waited for his head to stop ringing. Afternoon, Chief Inspector.

The Chief Inspector came down on him like a vengeful hobbling ogre. He hobbled because, not long ago, a shark bit off his foot and he had a wooden one. He yelled in Reiker's face. What the blazes are you doing here?

Reiker wiped spit from his eye. Just ah, meeting Schneider for lunch.

Schneider looked up from the desk that once had been Reiker's. No, you're not. His mutton chop sideburns framed an unhelpful face.

"You know, Inspector Schneider, a little white lie isn't much to ask, considering you took my job," said Reiker.

Schneider tweaked his mustache. Didn't realize I was in your debt for that.

The wall telephone buzzed. A nearby officer answered. Police.

Sure, Reiker said to Schneider, you're afraid to tarnish your procedurally perfect reputation.

It's for you, Braun, called the officer, holding up the telephone mouthpiece.

I have a stellar reputation, said Schneider. Tap tap tap, said the typewriter. It's a shame you can't say the same. A few officers chuckled.

Are you serious? said Officer Braun on the phone.

My reputation is, I get the job done, said Reiker.

Reiker, hollered the Chief Inspector. Are you still here? Get out. We fight crime, not each other. He grasped the back of Reiker's wool jacket and gave him a push toward the front door. You no longer work here and you can't come in to filch information for your private detective business, and if I ever see you in here again I'll chew your head off to the neck bone.

Reiker straightened his coat. Still haven't forgiven me for retiring, h'm?

The Chief Inspector growled and stalked away. Walls shook as he slammed into his office.

He misses me, said Reiker.

He yells at me instead, said Schneider, but it's just not the same.

I'm not talking to you, said Reiker.

Why, because I wouldn't lie for you? Schneider tapped a sheaf of papers briskly on the desktop and put it in a file.

Are you trying to make me feel guilty? said Reiker.

Is it working?

Keep trying.

Schneider cranked a new piece of paper into his typewriter roller. What do you want, anyway?

Who says I want something? Maybe I'm here to spend time with my erstwhile buddies. Scattered laughter met his words. Reiker grinned, glanced down the hall at the Chief Inspector's closed door, and helped himself to black coffee. They're finally doing the promised renovations of my office and I need a place to sleep for a couple of nights.

Don't you have an apartment yet?

No, that slippery witch of a manageress has nothing free til fall. Still sleeping on the Maneater.

The what?

My office couch. It has a way of sucking you in.

So do you, muttered one of the officers. What about a hotel?

Nice of you to offer, Schmidt, but you're not my type. Schneider, will you shut up that racket a minute?

Schneider paused, fingers hovering over typewriter keys. Unlike some of us, he said, I have work to do.

Oh, you're just full of little gems of nastiness today, aren't you? C'mon Schneider, say yes and I'll go away.

No. Schneider resumed typing.

You won't even know I'm there.

I know you're here. How is it different?

What about a boat trip? said Officer Braun.

They stared at him. He jerked a thumb at the wall phone. Wife won a pair of Rhine cruise tickets. We were planning to board at Heidelberg. Here. He held up a pair of tickets. Turns out we're not going.

Reiker took the tickets. Why not?

Her mother's sick again. Might not get out of the hospital this time.

Reiker patted his shoulder. Sorry to hear that.

Oddly, her health disintegrated when she heard we were going on a week-long cruise without her. He shook his head. Anyway, you can have both tickets. Bring a friend.

I have no friends, said Reiker.

I'm due for time off, said Schneider, whose ears were keen even above the typewriter noise.

So what does that have to do with me? said Reiker.

Schneider sighed. You're right. Even if I went, I'd be stuck with you and your slovenly ways.

There will be other passengers, said Reiker. I'm not planning to change my slovenly ways.

In the office of the Chief Inspector, his private telephone buzzed.

And you know how uneasy I get around strangers, said Schneider.

You have a suspicious mind.

Naturally, said Schneider. It compliments my career choice.

Career? Huh. You'll never get promoted.

You're the one who never got promoted.

Don't knock it, said Reiker They were about to offer me a lucrative desk job.

Right, said Schneider with a sniff. Well, it's probably a cruise for old people.

Officer Braun looked up. The brochure said an exciting adventure of magical moments for young and old alike.

You mean screaming children who run up and down aisles watched by fond smiling grandparents? said Reiker.

Children never used to be so undisciplined, said Braun.

It wouldn't be much fun, said Schneider.

It'll be great, said Reiker. He glanced at the tickets. "The steam wheeler Agrippina II. I've heard of this boat. One of the big pleasure cruisers on the Rhine, three decks, I think. She uses high-pressure steam power and two paddle wheels. Modeled after the original Agrippina, but more glamorous."

The bell rang on Schneider's typewriter, and he made a brisk carriage return. Where's she stop?

Braun scratched his head. After Heidelberg? Worms, then through Loreley Gorge, a couple castles and tourist traps. Check on board to be sure.

I've never been to Worms, said Schneider.

The door to the Chief Inspector's office flew open. Reiker!

Reiker's stomach dropped to his shoes. He drained his coffee. Just leaving, he said.

Get in here, yelled the Chief Inspector, pointing at his office.

Murmurs of 'uh oh' circulated through the room. With a wan smile, Reiker slunk into the Chief Inspector's office. The door thudded behind him. The Chief Inspector strode over in a slightly wobbly way. Sit. He pointed to a wooden swivel chair and seated himself behind his desk.

Reiker sat. I was just leaving. Can you make it fast?

Thunder settled on the Chief Inspector's brow. There's been a murder.

Talk to homicide, said Reiker, starting to rise.

Sit!

Reiker sat.

I would like to engage your services.

Reiker blinked and wiggled a finger in his ear. Seriously? Or is this some kind of setup?

Dead serious. I need a private detective and you're the only one I know.

I'm the only one in town. What can I do for you, Chief Inspector?

The Chief Inspector leaned forward on his elbows, steepling his hands. He tapped his fingers together. "Since you'll be on the Agrippina II anyway, he said, I need intelligence gathered."

Aw, said Reiker. "I knew you missed me. How'd you know I'm going on the Agrippina II?"

The Chief